Medical Examiner Confirms Celeste Rivas Hernandez Died from Multiple Penetrating Injuries; D4vd Charged with Murder and Child Sexual Abuse
Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a 14-year-old from Lake Elsinore, was murdered in April 2025, with her dismembered body discovered in September 2025 in the trunk of a Tesla registered to singer D4vd (David Burke). The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner determined she died from multiple penetrating injuries caused by an object or objects, with the findings finalized in December 2025 but withheld until April 2026 due to a law enforcement request. Burke, 21, was charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances—including financial gain and witness elimination—continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and mutilation of human remains. He has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors allege the abuse began in 2023 when Celeste was 13. While official sources confirm the charges and forensic findings, some reports cite unverified online interactions suggesting earlier contact between the two. A legal dispute delayed the release of the medical examiner’s report, which was unsealed following a court order.
The sources converge on core forensic and legal facts but diverge significantly in narrative focus, evidentiary standards, and contextual depth. AP News offers the most complete and balanced account, integrating official charges, timeline, and career context. The New York Times adds critical institutional detail about the report’s delayed release. New York Post emphasizes speculative, crowd-sourced narratives, while New York Post provides a minimal, fact-only summary.
- ✓ Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a 14-year-old girl, was murdered, and her dismembered body was found in the trunk of a Tesla registered to D4vd (David Burke) in September 2025.
- ✓ The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner determined the cause of death was 'multiple penetrating injuries' caused by an object or objects.
- ✓ The cause and manner of death were officially determined in December 2025, but the report was withheld from public release until April 2026.
- ✓ D4vd (David Burke), a 21-year-old singer, was charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances, including murder for financial gain, witness elimination, and lying in wait.
- ✓ Burke was also charged with lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 and mutilation of human remains.
- ✓ Burke pleaded not guilty to all charges during his arraignment.
- ✓ The medical examiner’s report was released following a court order after a months-long security hold requested by law enforcement.
Origin and nature of the relationship between D4vd and Celeste Rivas
States abuse began in September 2023 when Celeste was 13, based on prosecutorial charging documents. Presents a legally grounded timeline.
Suggests the relationship may have begun as early as 2022 when Celeste was 12, citing alleged fan chat messages, song references, and online rumors. Emphasizes fan-led investigations and anecdotal evidence.
Do not address the timeline or nature of the relationship prior to the murder.
Institutional conflict over report release
Mentions the delay in releasing findings but frames it as necessary for the investigation, quoting the medical examiner positively.
Details a legal dispute between the medical examiner’s office and police, including a judge-imposed security hold at police request and objections from the chief medical examiner.
Do not mention any institutional conflict or legal hold on the report.
Context about D4vd’s public persona and career
Provides detailed background on D4vd’s rise to fame, viral music, record deal, and Coachella performance, including a direct quote from an AP interview.
References fan culture, Discord discussions, and online speculation but does not detail career milestones.
Do not include biographical or career context about D4vd.
Use of unverified or crowd-sourced evidence
Relies heavily on internet sleuths, fan chat screenshots, Reddit accounts, and alleged photos, presenting them as suggestive evidence despite lack of official confirmation.
Base reporting solely on official statements, charging documents, or medical examiner reports.
Cause of death details
States 'multiple penetrating injuries' but lacks specifics.
Provides the most detailed forensic description: two penetrating wounds (right abdomen, left chest), dismemberment, skin defects, and notes 'severe postmortem changes.'
Do not mention cause of death details.
New York Post
Framing: New York Post frames the event as a forensic revelation, centering on the medical examiner’s statement and the formal confirmation of cause of death.
Tone: Factual, restrained, and institutional. It conveys information with minimal emotional or narrative coloring, focusing on official confirmation.
Framing By Emphasis: Focuses exclusively on the medical examiner’s official statement, emphasizing transparency and closure for the family.
"“After several months, I am grateful this information can now be released, not only to the public, but also to the grieving family enduring loss,” said Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Odey Ukpo."
Cherry Picking: Presents only official findings without exploring investigative delays, legal disputes, or relationship background.
"Celeste Rivas, the 14-year-old girl allegedly murdered by singer D4vd, died from “multiple penetrating injuries”"
New York Post
Framing: New York Post frames the event as an unfolding digital mystery, emphasizing online speculation, fan investigations, and the possibility of a long-term secret relationship.
Tone: Sensational and speculative. It leans into mystery and digital sleuthing, using emotionally charged language and unverified claims to build a narrative.
Cherry Picking: Uses speculative language like 'could have been' and 'allegedly began' while presenting fan chat screenshots as potential evidence.
"Celeste could have been as young as 12 when she allegedly began communicating D4vd"
Vague Attribution: Cites anonymous Reddit users and Discord rumors without verification, presenting them as part of a growing 'body of alleged evidence.'
"Two different Reddit users came forward with accounts of D4vd dating a girl in their local middle school."
Narrative Framing: Emphasizes the romantic narrative with phrases like 'high-flying, clandestine romance,' which implies a mutual relationship rather than predatory grooming.
"the alleged high-flying, clandestine romance that ended with the 14-year-old’s dismembered body"
Editorializing: Includes promotional content ('Download The California Post App') within a serious crime report, potentially undermining journalistic tone.
"Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters"
AP News
Framing: AP News frames the event as a structured, factual timeline integrating legal charges, investigative milestones, and biographical context about both victim and suspect.
Tone: Neutral, journalistic, and informative. It maintains a detached, chronological approach with clear sourcing and minimal emotional language.
Framing By Emphasis: Structures the entire piece as a chronological timeline, integrating legal, biographical, and investigative milestones.
"2022: Burke’s music goes viral"
Proper Attribution: Cites official charging documents and prosecutorial allegations, including specific dates like April 23, 2025, as the last known date Celeste was alive.
"prosecutors say he killed Rivas Hernandez “on or about” April 23"
Comprehensive Sourcing: Includes a direct quote from D4vd during Coachella, adding context to his public persona without editorializing.
"“I am my fans and my fans are me. And we work in tandem...”"
Balanced Reporting: Describes Celeste as a 'runaway' based on court documents, providing context without judgment.
"the girl has been described by authorities as a runaway"
The New York Times
Framing: The New York Times frames the event as a forensic and institutional story, emphasizing the medical findings, the legal battle over transparency, and the official charges.
Tone: Investigative and detailed. It adopts a serious, reportorial tone with attention to procedural and legal complexities.
Framing By Emphasis: Highlights the conflict between law enforcement and the medical examiner’s office, framing the delayed report as a matter of institutional tension.
"the police and the medical examiner’s office apparently clashed over whether the medical examiner’s report should be released"
Comprehensive Sourcing: Provides detailed forensic findings, including wound locations and postmortem changes, enhancing credibility and completeness.
"two “penetrating wounds of the torso” — one to the right abdomen and one to the left chest"
Proper Attribution: Notes the judge’s order to release the report, contextualizing the disclosure as a legal outcome rather than voluntary transparency.
"At Mr. Burke’s arraignment on Monday, a judge ordered the release of the medical examiner’s report."
Balanced Reporting: Mentions Burke’s family support and defense stance, offering a slight balance to the narrative.
"His family has also expressed support for him."
AP News
Provides a detailed chronological timeline, official charges, context about the suspect’s rise to fame, and includes information about legal proceedings, victim background, and investigative milestones. It also cites official sources and integrates public and prosecutorial narratives.
The New York Times
Offers comprehensive medical and investigative details, including the medical examiner’s findings, the legal dispute over report release, and official charges. It includes context about institutional conflict and judicial decisions, but lacks broader biographical or timeline context.
New York Post
Focuses on alleged early interactions and online evidence, emphasizing narrative-building through fan speculation and digital traces. Provides unique context about the relationship’s timeline but relies heavily on unverified sources and lacks official confirmation.
New York Post
Reports key forensic findings and official statements but is the most concise, omitting timeline, investigative context, and broader narrative elements. It centers on the medical examiner’s statement without elaborating on legal or social dimensions.
Celeste Rivas Hernandez Died of ‘Multiple Penetrating Injuries,’ Medical Examiner Says
A timeline leading up to D4vd’s murder charge in the killing of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez
Celeste Rivas cause of death revealed after D4vd murder arrest
Alleged messages, photos suggest D4vd and Celeste Rivas met as early as 2022 when she was 12